Judging criteria

• Channel leadership
• Business development
• Channel & marketing development programmes
• Service & support
• Training & certification

• Product focus & choice
• Availability & distribution services
• Pre- and Post-sales support
• Market Development Funds
• Training & certification

• Business/technology innovation
• Ability to deliver real benefits to the user customer
• Ability to meet client objectives in terms of ROI & investment protection
• End-user support & services
• Geographical reach & coverage

Judging Panel

Guy Whitcroft Guy Whitcroft, principal consultant with CapitalSteps, was formerly Group COO of Aptec and held a number of C-level roles at MB Technologies before that. Guy has a unique understanding of the hi-tech industry from almost four decades of IT-industry experience across all channel segments, from vendor through distributor and reseller to end-user, with his experience covering roles from technical (software and hardware) through product, brand and marketing management to sales and sales management, and the past 17 years in executive management roles. Credited with the growth of Tarsus Technologies/MB Technologies from a small niche distributor to [Southern] Africa's largest and most successful distribution group, Guy has a strong focus on the top- and bottom-line and what's required to achieve success, and brings this experience to bear today consulting to a wide range of technology, and other, businesses on issues of strategy, structure, supply chain, process, and so on.

Vasudevan. K.S. Vasudevan is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Satvik Inc, a new age research and analytics solutions provider, with primary capabilities in providing consulting oriented solutions in research and business analytics, Marketing intelligence and Mobility solutions. Satvik focuses on certain key industry sectors viz., FMCG, Banking & Finance, Automotive, Technology, Telecommunication and Retail. During his 17 years of executive stint in UAE, Vasudevan has spearheaded various functional management aspects including Sales, marketing, HR, commercial finance, logistics, PR, legal, corporate and strategic management issues. Vasudevan is also exposed to various industries including IT, digital electronics, consumer durables, HVAC, Green energy (solar power). However, his contribution to IT industry is well remembered by the IT fraternity even now. Vasudevan has made significant contribution to channel development and brand building and has been the key person behind putting Samsung in the spotlight of Middle East IT industry. Vasudevan comes with multi-functional and multi-industry experience by virtue of working in strategic roles with Samsung and Sanyo focusing major part of his career in the Middle East. He has extensively travelled in the Middle East, African continent and CIS countries in establishing the brand business in the last 17 years.

Khaled Kamel Khaled Kamel is a Partner at MAHAM Management Consulting (www.mahamconsultants.com) working closely with clients to help them establish and execute business plans to success. Khaled worked for two years as the Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan Regional Managing Director at Lenovo. Right before that Khaled was the Country Manager for HP in Saudi Arabia for two and a half years. He joined HP in 2000 as Business Development Manager for Large Format Printers in the Middle-East and was quickly promoted to manage the sales of PC's, servers and laptops in the Gulf and Levant regions. Khaled proved to be instrumental to the growth of HP laptops in these regions. Due to his vast and rapid success within HP, he was again promoted to Sales Manager for all IPG products in the Middle-East. After the 2002 merger, Khaled was appointed as the Country Manager for HP's Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) in the Gulf region and Iran. Khaled has been in the IT and Business fields since 1989 and prior to joining HP he worked for distributors and resellers of software and hardware vendors including AutoDesk HP and IBM. The invaluable experience gained during these years undoubtedly prepared him for his productive and successful career at HP. Khaled worked and lived in USA, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia and has extensive experience in the Gulf region. Khaled speaks fluent Arabic, English, Farsi and can communicate fairly in French and Spanish. Khaled has a Bachelor degree in Architecture from USA as well as an MBA (Masters Degree in Business Administration). Khaled currently lives in the United Arab Emirates and offers consultancy and senior level coaching and training all over the Middle East and Africa region.

Samer Karawi Samer is the Managing Partner of G&K, a consulting firm focusing on providing American and European ICT companies with Business Development Services in the Middle East, this to include selection of the appropriate channel partners, recruitment, training, enablement and sales and marketing support. Prior to that, Samer worked for over 25 year in major multinational IT companies in various capacities and has experience in both European and Middle East markets. Samer holds a Bachelor degree in Computer Science and a Master degree in Marketing from France.